After a tough 18 months, your top performers are longing for the chance to unplug and unwind, which is why incentive trips that incorporate wellness experiences are predicted to see a surge in popularity post pandemic.

Taking to the water with a fishing rod while enjoying the great outdoors, or simply being at one with nature in the forest, are proven to reduce stress and boost wellbeing and happiness. So, we check out three of the best luxury lodges for fly-in fishing adventures, foraging and more, that are guaranteed to leave your teams refreshed and reenergised…

Kississing Lake Lodge, Manitoba

The lowdown
Epic fishing meets ultimate luxury at Kississing Lake Lodge, Canada’s ultimate five-star fishing lodge. If you are looking to treat your incentive group to the luxury fishing trip of a lifetime, look no further than Kississing Lake Lodge. Located in the pristine Northern Region of Manitoba, this lake has world-class trophy angling for walleye, lake trout, and northern pike.

Your group will be set up with one of the lodge’s legendary guides who’ve been fishing the lake for years and stand ready to reveal their secret spots, while advising on tackle and teaching stealth-like skills in netting the big one!

Group size
The lodge can accommodate up to 40 people, with tailored packages available to suit your group. 

Sleep
Accommodation is in private spacious cabins with all the creature comforts required and cosy down duvets for snuggling under after a long day on the lake.  

Eat
A Canadian fishing trip would not be complete without a hearty and unforgettable shore lunch. The fish caught by your team is prepared to perfection by the guides who take as much pride in their shore lunches as they do in finding just the right fishing holes. Tuck into crispy walleye or trout fillets, fried potatoes, beans, and corn, served with a cold one.

After your day on the water, appetisers and a well-stocked bar await your group back at the lodge, followed by home-style cooking with portions guaranteed to keep you full.

Getting there
Take the special air service from Winnipeg to Flin Flon airport, located on the border of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. From here, the lodge provides ground transportation to its float base, where the Wings Over Kississing float plane service will deliver you and your colleagues to the lodge.

And there’s more
An added bonus to staying at Kississing Lake Lodge is exclusive access to several remote lakes that can only be reached by float plane. Your team can spend a day at one of the famous and varied fly-out lakes that offer new fishing opportunities to make the adventure complete.

Trout Point Lodge, Nova Scotia

The lowdown
Nestled in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area in the heart of the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, Trout Point Lodge is an acclaimed place for forest bathing – a Japanese technique of self-care and increasingly popular wellness experience to rejuvenate mind, body, and soul – perfect for busy teams that need to unwind.

Not simply a walk in the woods, forest bathing or shinrin-yoku is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest, which according to studies, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress.

A forest bathing experience at Trout Point will help your team disconnect, learn about local ecology, and detoxify. Forest bathing walks can also be complemented with a forest-side massage and foraging walks for edible treats from the woods.

In the autumn months, the forests surrounding the lodge are a bountiful source of edible plants and guided foraging walks excursions take groups out in search of these delicious and unique specimens.

Discover new delicacies you never knew existed, such as wild cranberries, root vegetables and mushrooms, all from the Acadian Forest. Back at the lodge enjoy a culinary treat, cooking the bounty you and your colleagues have foraged together.

Group size
10-20 (max occupancy is 34)

Sleep
The Small Luxury Hotels of the World property is designed so that every hotel room, suite, and cottage boast stunning river views. There are 11 luxurious rooms and suites located across the main lodge and secluded Beaver Hall and a two-bedroom Lakeside Cottage. Many have hand-cut stone fireplaces and porches or patios, along with eclectic décor and local Acadian handmade log and twig furniture.

Eat
Indulge in a gourmet four-course Chef's Menu dinner featuring the freshest, local ingredients accompanied by an award-winning wine list. Trout Point's Atlantic Acadian cuisine is distinguished by the finest regional products, intertwining local seafood, organic ingredients, wild woodland delicacies, and produce from the gardens to create an unforgettable group dining experience founded on principles of sustainability.

Getting there
Trout Point lies just 50km from the Yarmouth International Airport, which accepts charter flights and private aircraft, or an easy three-hour transfer by road from Halifax. 

And there’s more…
Trout Point is the world's first certified Starlight hotel and home to one of North America’s Darkest Skies for extraordinary stargazing. The Stargazing Platform is in a riverside meadow away from the surrounding forest, allowing for nearly unobstructed 360-degree views of the sky with the help of advanced telescopic equipment and a knowledgeable staff astronomer.

Incentive groups can also enjoy canoeing and kayaking, geo-tours, and hiking trails amidst wilderness splendour. And to wind down from the day, the riverside wood-fired hot tub and barrel sauna are a must.

Milton Lake Lodge, Saskatchewan

The lowdown
Experience the best of remote, wild Northern Saskatchewan in luxury at Milton Lake Lodge. Its remote location offers the best in unpressured trophy fishing for northern pike, lake trout and Arctic grayling, with access to a wide network of lakes and rivers.

On the water, professional guides will treat your group to the best that the remote wilderness offers. With one guide for every two guests, skill level does not matter. The experienced angler will experience the rewards of their efforts put in and the novice will be treated to some fantastic fishing that will get the heart racing.

Group size
The lodge is ideal for intimate corporate retreats and exclusive groups. It can accommodate up to 16 guests, but for the best possible experience, the ideal group size is eight.

Sleep
Each of the 16 rooms has a natural pine interior and a double bed with a spring mattress and cosy down duvet. 

Eat
Start each morning with a hearty breakfast and then after an exhilarating morning of fishing, enjoy your catch at a shore lunch. Think crispy fried golden fish fillets and citrus baked trout fillets served alongside fresh cut French fries in a remote wilderness setting of fresh pine trees and cool lake air. In the evening your team can look forward to a gourmet meal and wine, served back at the lodge.

Getting here
From Saskatoon International Airport, take a flight to either Stony Rapids or Points North Landing. From there you board a float plane for a short, enjoyable journey to the lodge.

And there’s more…
Located in the heart of the “Dream Zone” Milton Lake Lodge is one of the premier destinations for viewing the Aurora Borealis.

Located 100 miles from the nearest settlement the darkness is pure and if the Aurora are active, your group will see them here. Late August into September is prime time to view the Aurora Borealis at Milton Lake Lodge.

Explore more amazing group bonding experiences that will inspire your top performers to reconnect with nature and each other and rejuvenate mind, body, and soul here

This content is sponsored by Destination Canada Business Events.